Will County, Employees Reach Labor Deal To End Strike: Union

Will County Employee Strike Ends

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – Hundreds of striking Will County employees are getting ready to return to work after union officials say they reached a tentative deal following a more than two-week walkout.

Anders Lindall is a spokesman for the workers’ union. He says both sides reached an agreement Wednesday morning. Employees are set to return to their offices Thursday.

About 1,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028 walked off the job Nov. 18 after 15 months of negotiations.

The strike involved more than half of Will County’s workers, including those in the health department, nursing home, highway department, sheriff’s office, court system and the jail. About 30 had to return to work after federal officials said they were essential and couldn’t walk off the job.